Method of and means for cleaning materials



Feb. 8, 1938.

C. C. LAMB METHOD- OF AND MEANS FOR CLEANING MATERIALS Filed sept. e,1952.

7 Sheets-Sheet l @Miou/7% 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 c. c. LAMB Feb. 8, 1938.

METHOD 6F AND MEANS FOR CLEANING. NATNNz/ms Filed sept. e, 193g /A/ VENroe 1w/,1.55 Cm wey-MM5 Feb. 8, 1938.` c. c. LAMB 2,107,855 Y METHOD OFAND MEANS FOR CLEANING MATERIALS Filed Sept. 6, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 3Feb. s, 1'938. C, LAMB 2,107,866

METHOD OF AND MANS FOR CLEANING MATERIALS Filed Sept. 6, 1932 '7Sheets-Sheet 4 /N VIA/TUE Feb; a, 193s. LAMB f 2,107,866

METHOD 'OF AND MEANS FOR CLEANING MATERIALS y Filed Sept. 6; '1952 v 7ShetS-Sheeb 5 Feb. 8, 1938. C, c. LAMB 2,107,866

METHOD 0F AND MEANS FO CLEANING MATERIALS Filed Sept. 6; 1932 7Sheets-Sheet 6 Feb. 8, 1938. c. c. LAMB i 2,107,866.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR CLEANING MATERIALS Filed sept. e, 1932 vsheets-sheet 7 Patented Feb. 8, 1938 PATENvTfoFFlcAl-:i

METl-{D OFIAND MEANS FOR. CLEANING MATERIALS ohm-les Calvert Lamb,chicago, nl. 'Y Application' september s, 1932, serial Ne. 631,809

Claims.

i The invention relates to a`met`hodvof, and means for cleaningmaterials such as fabrics, furs, leather and similar materials, and itsprin- 'l cipal object consists in providing a novel method of, and meansfor, cleaning materials in a safe,

' sanitary, expeditious and yet efficient manner.

It is' a further object of the invention to provide a novel method of,and means for, cleaning materials in an inexpensive, rapid manner with`out sacrificing eiiciency of the cleaning process.

It is a further object lof the invention to provide a novel method of,and means for, cleaning materials, whereby a cleaning fiuid of high orlow flash point may be used without entailing any danger of combustionor explosion.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel method of,and means for, cleaning materials whereby thecleaning fluid is broughtin contact with the material tobe cleaned under the exclusion of anygasifying or vaporizing,

- media-whereby the cleaning process might be cleaning processes.

impaired or defeated. f

, It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel method of,and means for; cleaning materials wherein during the entire cleaning*process the original volume of cleaning fluid is maintained or,preserved,'enabling thereby repeated use ofthe cleaning fluid forsubsequent A- further objectof theinvention aims atl providing a novelmethod of, and means for cleaning materials wherein the cleaning fluidis prevented from vaporizing ongasifying, so that Aduring any stage ofthe cleaning process the action of the fluid in vremoving impurities,`greases or other contaminations is maintained at the highest degree ofefliciency. Y

'It is also an object of the invention to provide novel method, andmeans for cleaning materials tol prevent the fluid from reaching itssaturation point, enabling thereby repeated use of the fluid, beforebeing returned for reclaiming.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a novelmethod-of, and means for; en-

abling the fabric to be sprayed or rinsed under,-

centrifugal force.

It is also an object of the invention to pro-Y vide a container for thereception of articles to be cleaned, which has an opening and egressports, which container is journaled in a casing to execute anoscillatory movementv with the casing and an independent rotar/ymovement, said opening and ports being closed during oscillation andopen during rotation.

It is e still further object of the invention to provide aself-contained reservoir in the appa- -ratus to enable the fluid tobe'retained intact in the apparatus after the .cleaning process, and topermit the fabrics to be sprayed and rinsed under centrifugal force. andthe rinsing medium to be removed from the apparatus again undercentrifugal force Without coming in contact with the cleaning uidin-thereservoir andsubsequently to return the fluid into the container undergravity preparatory to the next cleaning process.

. It is also an object of the` invention to provide certain details ofconstruction and arrangement tending to enhance theeiciency and utilityof an apparatus of the character described.

with these and other equally important objects in view which will becomeapparent from a perusal of the invention, the latter comprises the meansand novel steps described in the following specication, particularlypointed out in l the claims forming a part thereof, and illustratedstruction.

Fig. 1a is a fragmentary detail view of a tube forthe ingress of air. y

Fig. 2 is a side view of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a frontelevationalview oi' the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a. section on the line I-l of Fig. 1.

Figf5 is an elevational section through a casing and container which isslightly modified.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a valve.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section through a further modification of thecontainer.

Fig. 8 is a. detail view of a bearing plate secured to the casing. J AFig. 9 is a section throughs; door in the casing controlling an openingin the container, and

Fig'..10` is an elevational section through anothermodiflcation o f thecontainer.

. Y The machinecoxnprises va. base plate i0 of oval -shape which 4at theedge is curved downwardly as at I i to aiord stability to the machinesupported on said plate.` To the base plate issecured in any approved orconvenient manner a housing tection against contact with moving parts ofthe f plained.

, fabrics arranged inthe inner container 39. The

'isy

machine and` toy afford a support for the main shaft ofthe device. i 1

To this end the housing section I2c is provided aty the left side asviewed in Fig. 1 with a bearing block I3 provided with a semi-circularrecess and having a top I4 formed with a similar recess to surround ahollow shaft I5 projecting at rightangles to the longitudinal axis oflan oval outer casing I6 comprising two sections bolted together as atI6a (Fig. 3). At the opposite side the casing I6 has a solid shaft I1,fjournaled in. a split bearing I8 formed integral with the housingsection I2c. The bearing I8 has an extension I9 terminating in anlintegral split bearing 20 in which is journaled a stub shaft 2lconstituting the drive shaft for 'actuating the machine forming thesubject matter of the invention. A horizontal bracket 22 projects fromthe housing section |2c and has pivotally secured thereto theintermediate portion of a shift lever 23 provided at the free end with ahandle 24 and terwith a clutch sleeve 26 adapted to couple shafts 2i andI1 or to release shaft I1 depending on 'the position of the sleevecaused by actuation of the lever 23.

The stub shaft-2l has secured to its outer end a hub 26 by across-pin21, and integral with said hub is a depending arm 28 which continuesdownwardly equi-distant from the extension I9, and the housing I2 toterminate in a gear sector 29 concentric to the stub shaft 2I and inmesh with a rack 30 slidingly supported in a bracket 3I secured to thehousing section I2a by screws or by any other conventional or approvedmeans.

The rack 30 is connected-to a pitman'32 whose other end is pivotallyconnected to the side of a worm wheel 33 by a pin 34 arranged in acasing 35 integralwith the housing section I2a. 'I'he worm wheel is inmesh with a' worm 36 fast on a shaft 31 of a motor 36 secured to thebase plate Il. From the foregoing it is obvious that upon running of themotor 38 the gear 33 -by the pit- `man 32 will impart a reciprocatingmotion to the rack` 30 l,causing oscillation of the sector 29 andtherewith of thestub l,shaft 2|, which motion maybe transmitted to theshaft I1 and outer casing I6Ifor a purpose hereinafter further ex- A Theouter casing I6 surrounds an inner container 39 which is concentric tothe outer casing and throughout its periphery maintains an equaldistance from the outer casing, except at the apex.

.T'I'he inner container is supportedin bearings 46 and 4I provided inthe apexes of the outer casing I6 land thus the bearings are'inlongitudinal alignment at right angles to the axis of oscillation of theouter casing. l

The bearing 48 comprises a. tubular member 42 closed at the inner sideby a wall 43 and having an opening 44 fo'the passage of a tube 45 in`'tegrai with theapex of the inner container as and projecting past theopening 44 arid through the bearing 46 to temporarily receive anelbow 46of a pipe 41 provided with a valve 48, which pipe leads to a source offluid supply adapted. to be used for the cleaning or dry 'cleaning of'bearing 4l has packing rings 49 and 58 abutting the wall 43 and a radialand eni thrust bearing 5I covered by a ring 52 having press t withthebearing. The bearing 4I is constructed similarly to bearing 49andsupports for rotation a soliti stud 53 projecting from the apex Qfthe inner container 39 and passing .through the bearing 4I. A supportingcollarv 54 maintains the stud 53 and thereby the inner container 39against displacement in downward direction.

-The tube 45 is in communication with the inner container 3.9 by anopening 55, constituting a. valve seat and bontrolled by an automaticvalve 56 whose stem 51 projects past the outer lend of the tube 45 sothat upon applying the pipe 41 Yto cause inflow of the cleaning uid a.

lug 58 of the elbow 46 forces the stem 51 inward-4 ly to open the valve56 against the pressure of a spring 58 provided in the tube 45 andcontacting at one end with a perforated partition 59 and at the otherend with a collar 60. The valve stern 51 is guided in itsreciprocatingmotion vby the' perforated partition 59 and an additionalperforated partition 6I.

The inner container 39 is madel up of two shells 60 and 6I of suitablematerialwhich com- L plement each other to form a complete oval minatingat the other end in a yoke 25 connected container.

The shells 68 and 6I areY formed at the inner -ends with acircumferential flange 62 provided "6I' is slightly longer than thecompanion shell 60' in order to cause junction of the shells to besituated to one side of the transverse center of the outer casing I6,where the outlet for the iiuid is provided as hereinafter furtherexplained.

A spring band 66 surrounds the gasket 64 (Fig. 1) arranged betweenflanges 62 and is held in 'position by means of guide pins 61, securedin appropriate manner to the casing.

The lband 66 at the upper side is open andl its ends are provided `withgibs 68 controlled by a pair of tongs 69 Ipivotally secured to a pin 10and extending through a slot 1I in the. outer casing I6 to 'contact withsaid gibs. The tongs are partly received in a closed casing 12 securedto the outer casing I6 by bolts" `13. The casing has an adjusting screw14 which extends through the wall of casing 12 and is held againstlongitudinal movement by washers 15 which also seal the opening againstleakage. A yoke 16 is arranged on the screw 14 whichvupon rotation,respectively, causes lowering or raising of the yoke whereby the tongsare either compressed or expanded to close or open the band andconsequently the portsv 65.'

The outer casing I6 is formed with a circumferential trough 11 to divertiiuid into -the hollow shaft I5 which iiuid aggregates at the center ofthe container under centrifugal force, and thence escapes through saidshaft and a pipe 18 controlled by a valve 19 (Fig. 3) to a receptacle(not shown) or back to the source of supply. The shaft I5 is also incommunication with a pip 80 provided/with a. valve 8| and havingatmospheric communication for the egress of a cur,- rent of fresh airfrom the inner container while rotating about its longitudinal axisafter all cleaning fluid has been removed, so as to cause the removal ofany trace of odor that may be left in the articles. The air current or,if desired a fluid, is admitted through a tube 82 fitting over thebearing 40 (Fig. la) and its lug 83 opens the valve 56 permitting air oruid to ilow past said v 2,107,868 valve into the container J9 and theair or fluid is removed through the ports 55 into the interspace betweenthe outer and inner containers I5 l to the atmosphere. Of course at thattime the I valve 8| is open and the valve 19is closed.

Rotation is imparted follows:

The motor shaft 31 is provided with a grooved pulley which is inalignment with a pulley IO yfast on a stub shaft 81 supported inbearings I8 upstanding from the base plate I0 (Fig. 3). A belt 89 istrained around pulleys l5 and l5;

The inner end of the stub shaft'l'l is provided with a helical pinion 90adapted to mesh in true pitch .line with a mating helical gear 9|secured to the stud 53 when the innerv container is ink verticalposition (Fig. 3) for extracting purposes. In such position the outercasing is held locked (as shown in Fig. 3) by a pin 92 entering arecess931m housing section |2c (Fig. 2) and locked therein by a dog 94 againstdisplacement.

To introduce the fabric into the inner con-- tainer 39 through the outercasing i5 a door generally designated by 95 is provided (Fig. 9) whichis hingedly secured to the outer container as at 96. The door 95-engages with' an upstanding flange integral with the outer casingtherebeing a packing gasket interposed between said flange and said doorto insure hermetic sealing. The door is provided with an inwardlyprojecting tubular member 96 of round or oblong cross section and istelescopngly fitted in an upstanding tubu- -lar flange 91 conforming tothe contour of the flange 96 but smaller than the opening 98 which .thedoor 95 covers. AThe flange 91 is integral with a second door 99closing'an opening |00 in the inner container by engagement witha flange|5| with the interposition of a sealing gasket In! to hermetically sealthe container during the cleaning process. The door 99 has an upstandving sleeve .|03 in which enters the stem of an adjusting screw. IM heldagainst longitudinal movement by washers |05 which seal theopenin forthe passage of the screw. 1 By means of this door it is'possible tohermetically close the inner container' so that no leakage or seepageoccurs during the cleaning process while the container is beingoscillated.

Torotate the inner container it is necessary to release the same byadiusting the door 99 to release the flange IUI, and yet no noxiousgases are permitted to escape into the room to harm the operator, as thecentrifugal force set up by the rotation of the inner container causesthe fluid to ow toward the center of the apparatus between the Atwocontainers and there to escape 'through the hollow shaft |5.

In operation,the casing I6 and the.l container I9 may be arranged eitherin horizontal position or in vertical positionfor the purpseof`permitting fabrics to bevintroduced into the inner container forcleaning. .v

' To this end, the ldoor 95 is 'swung into open position, thesecond'door 99 being so dimensioned as to easily pass the opening 99 inthe container I5.

Afterintroducing the fabrics andclosin'gy andy locking the outer door 95by means of a dog |05 so that casing i5y and'container 39 arehermetically sealed, the inner door is secured in tight engagement with'th'. inner container by seal the inner container.

tothe inner container as.

actuation of the adjusting screw IM. 'I'hereupon, the Vadjusting screw14 is actuated to close the band and the ports 55 to furtherhermeticallyvAfter thepipe l1 has been applied and the valve 5I opened, the valve 48is opened to permit ingress of the fluid into the inner container. Thenthe pipe 41 is detached, whereby the valve 56 is closed so as tocompletely and hermetically seal the inner container against the escapeof fluid. If the casing and container are in vertical position they arep1acedin horizontal position, and the shift lever 23 is actuated toimpart oscillatory movement to the shaft 2|.

oscillation of the Shaft entails oscillation of' both the outer casingand inner container through the agency of therack 30 and sector 29.

After the fabrics are thoroughly cleansed, the casing and container areplaced in yertical position and locked by the agency of the dog 94.

Then the valve 19 is opened and the inner doorV 9 9 is released byactuating the screw |04 to disconnect the inner casing from the outercontainer. Subsequently the adjusting screw I4 is actuated to releasethe band 65 and permit passage of the fluid through the open ports 65.

Fluid can then pass out through the pipe-`l8 ltainerand enable freerotation of said inner conunder the centrifugal force lof the inner conftainer which is being rotated byvirtue of the engagement of its pinion9| with the pinion 90.

The fluid is then removed to a receptacle or to the source of supply, asthe case may be. After removal of the fluid, the valve 19 is closed, the

' pipe 82 is placed over the tube I5 and bearing 40 to open the valve 56to permit fresh air or fluid to ingress into the container and to sweepthrough the interval between the casing and container aided by thecentrifugal yforce set up by the rotation of the inner container and thefan blades and escapes through the shaft I5 into the pipe 80 after thevalve 8| has been opened to egress into the rIfhe rotation of the fanblades at atmosphere. that time sets up eddy-currents aiding in sweep-ling the air or fluid from the outer container into the shaft |5,' sothat when the said door, 95 is opened, all gases are completelyscavenged out of the machinev and no noxious gases remain either in themachine or in the cleaned fabrics, tending to harm or injure personsoperating the machines.

The modificationl shown in Fig. 5 is in all respects identical with theembodiment described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, exceptthat the inner container 39' is made of glass or other and the outercasing l5 is provided with an annular shoulder |06 forming a seat forthe upper edge .of the inner container shell, and having means forpreventing displacement of said inner containerl while in rotation orduring oscillation.

.The outer casing is provided-on the inside with anupwardiy extendingflange to form a. trough 'I1' and the container has a plurality of ports.v The trough 11' directs the fluid to the hollow shaft I5 whence itescapes back to the source of supply '(not shown) by opening the valve19.

Upon opening the valve 80 air may be introduced through the valve 56 toremove traces of noxious gases. l i

The hollow shaft I5' and the solid stud 2|' :are each provided with abearing plate |01 which is secured to the outer casing I6' by aplurality of screws |08. l

The modification shown in Fig. 10 is distinguished from the rstdescribed modication by the manner of supporting the inner container topermit simultaneously` rotation and oscillation thereof, so that novibration is imparted to `the outer structure of the machine.

As shown, the inner container II I is supported at one end "with anadjustable socket II2 having pins II3 entering holes in the wall of thecasing |14. An adjustment screw H3 held against longitudin'al movementin a hub I I5 of the casing I |4 enters with its stem in the socket II2.

At the other end of the container its end wall IIB is formed with anopening III to encompass a ball I |8of a valve housing ||9 containing avalve |20 controlling the admission of fluid. The valve housing H9.issupported in a bearing |2| and is equipped at the upper end with ahelical' wheel |22 meshing with a helical pinion |23 fast on a shaft |24supported in a bracket bearing |25 secured to the standard |26 of themachine frame. A pulley |21 fast on the shaft |24 is belted to thepulley |28 fast on the stub shaft |29. When the container is to beoscillated-and rotated at the same time, then the socketl I2 iswithdrawn from contact with the inner container III, so that the latteris suspended from the ball ||8l and can execute both an oscillatory androtary movement.

Oscillation is imparted by the depending varm 28 and the gear sector 29which meshes with the rack 30, the same-as has been described inconnection with the rst described embodiment.

' The container is locked against rotation by the er- I I has beencleaned and the machine is turned in vertical position as shown in Fig.l0, the screw |I3'r` is adjusted torelease the container I II leaving itsuspended on its ball support I I1.

If there is any overload or unequal distribution of the load lthe'container will vibrate during rotation but. will not permit suchvibration to be transmitted to the casing or entire structure of themachine.

While the drawings show preferred embodiments of 'the invention,numerous changes and alterations may bemade without departing from thespirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not limit myself to thevdetailsof construction and arrangement of parts, as shown, nortothesequence of steps of the method, as described, but-claim my invention asbroadly as the state of the -"art permits.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, an inner container, an outercasing surrounding said inner container, means for continuouslyoscillating said container and said casing in unison about 'a commonaxis, and means for rotating said containei-I about an axis at rightangles to said com-y mon axis. 1

2. In a machine of the character described, a container, a casing'surrounding said container, a L 5 door in said casing controlling anopening in said y container, means for continuously oscillating saidcontainer and said casing in uison about a common axis, and means-forrotating `said container only in apredetermined position about an axisat l0 right angles to said common axis.

3. In a machine of the character described, an oval container having anopening, a. casing con-` centrically surrounding said container', `adoor on Y said casing, means on said door to seal said oen'- 15 teropening, means for oscillating said Icontainer and said casing about acommon transverse axis, and means for rotating said container only aboutits longitudinal axis. Y'

`4. In a machine of the character described, 'a container, a casingconcentrically surrounding saidv container and supporting the same.,means for admitting a iiuid to said container, means for permittingegress of said uid, said container being normally hermetically sealed,

,means for continuously'voscillating said container and said casingabout a common transverse axis, and means for rotating said containeronly about its longitudinal axis. y

5. In a machine of the character described, a container having an inletopening and outlet ports, a casing surrounding said container andsupporting the same, means actuated extraneous- .ly to said casing forsealing said ports in said container and releasing.' the same, means forsealing said opening, means for continuously oscillating said containerand said casing about a common transverse axis, and means for rotatingsaid container about its longitudinal axis.

6. In a machine of the character described, a. containenhaving an inletopening, a casing surrounding said container and rotatably carrying thesame, means on `said casing for closing said inlet opening and therebyrigidly connecting said container and casing, means for oscillating said45' containeriand said casing about a common ltransverse axis, `andmeans for rotating saidcontaine'r about its longitudinal axis afterrelease of its inlet opening. Y

7. In a machine of the character described, a casing, a containerjournaledwith axially aligned studs in said casing, means forcontinuously os` cillating said casing and said container about an axistransverse' to said studs-to prevent the formation of gases in the headroom, and means for rotating said container only about its studs.

8. Ina machine of the character described, a casing, a containerjournaled at its ends in said casing and having circumferentiallyarranged ports, means' adapted to close and openl said ports, meansextraneous to said casingfor actuating said first -named means, meansforosciilating said casing and said containerA about a common axis, andmeans for rotating said conalonso casing and having an inlet opening anda. series of outlet ports, a spring band actuated extra- "neously tosaid casing ,for covering and sealing said ports, a door on said casingadmitting access to said inlet opening and sealing the same,respectively, means for admitting a iluid into said container, and meansfor exhausting the duid under centrifugal force.

11. In a machine of the character described, a casing, a containerjournaled at its/ends in said casing and having an inlet opening forarticles Y to be introduced and a series of outlet ports, a

spring band'actuated extraneouslyv to said casing for covering andsealing 'said ports, a door on said casing aiording access to said inletopening and sealing the same, respectively, means for selectivelyintroducing :duid and a-ir to said container, means for oscillating saidcasing and said container in unison, and means for exhausting the fluidand the air under centrifugal force.

12. In a machine of the character described, a

casing, a containerjournaled. at its ends in said casing and having aninlet opening and a series of ports, a spring band actuated extraneouslyto said casing and encompassing said container for closing anduncovering said ports, a door on said casingaii'ording access to saidinlet opening and sealing the same, respectively, said casing having anopening adapted to communicate with said ports, means for oscillatingsaid casing and said container in unison, and means for rotating saidcontainer ,independentlyloi' said casing.

13. In a machine of the character described, a casing, a containersurrounded by sald casing, means for suspending said container from saidcasing for universal movement, means for releasably locking saidcontainer against rotation, means for oscillating said casing and saidcontainer in unison, means for rotating said container, and a meansenabling said container to vibrate during said rotation.

14. A method of cleaning materials, comprising 10 the steps ofintroducing materials into a. perforated container, sealing vsaidcontainer, introducing a volatile uid into said container, maintainingsaid uid in a non-gaseous state during the cleaning process bycontinuously co-minl5 gling the uid and evolved gases, subsequentlyopening said container, and removing the iluid from the materials andthe container under centrifugal force by rotating the container.

15. A method of cleaning materials, compris- 20 ing the steps oi'introducing materials into a perforated container, sealing saidcontainer, introducing a volatile iluid into said container, maintainingsaid fluid in a non-gaseous state during the cleaning process bycontinuously co-mingling the iluid and evolved gases, subsequentlyopening said container, removing the iluid fromthe materials and thecontainer under centrifugal force by rotating the container, andeliminating odor and traces of said iluid from the materials.

CHARLES cALvER'r LAMB.

